Catch



. 52 v 41 v 25 16 15 15 40 8 41 i6 May 22, 1945. E. BORCHERS 2,376,325

CATCH Filed Feb. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fave/2Z0)" J l ggzrl .Borcizera gan s.

May 22,1945. E, BORCHERS 2,376,325

CATCH Filed Feb. 20; 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 6- n n 7: w .514 if 50 IT 51 ml 0 6 as 25 6,2

57 52 60 58 5 H: I i 40 I gfi 4 I! is 1m :1 65 J 56 E 61 r 6 5 55 5627i B archers I ing. When so positioned, the forward end of the its forward edge outwardly flared as at 26. The

strike is preferably made of a strip of metal having an intermediate portion bent to provide a large V-shaped head 27 and a shank portion 23 j extending from outwardly turned ears 29 adapted to be secured to the inner facing .of the door as by screws 30. The outwardly flared ends of the jaws guide the head 2! and when the head is 'fully inserted between the-jaws, the latter grip the shank 28 in back of the head 21.

The jaws 23 are mounted for pivotal movement during the passage of the strike in and out of locking position, and one of the principal features of the invention resides in the simple manner in which the jaws are so supported. .To-this end, the side walls 16 of the box-like housing are provided with integral lugs 32 at their front edges, bent toward each other. sothat they are positioned in end-to-end but spaced relation (see Figs. 4 and 5). The lugs 32 thus provide opposite edges or marginal portions and the jaws 23 are shaped to fitover such edges and to be retained in abuttingrelation therewith by spring means I mounted within the box-like housing. .In the preferred form, the jaws are bent on transverse lines. intermediate their ends to provide grooves 33 in which the edges of the lugs 32 are located.

To hold the jaws against shifting movement relative to the'edges of the lugs 32, the grooved-portion of each jaw is centrally apertured as at 34' to fit over tongues 35 extending from the edges of the lugs 32 into the intervening space,

With the foregoing construction, the jaws are assembled into the box-like housing by inserting them in the space between the tongues 35 and then moving them laterally to insert the tongues into the apertures 34 and to position the grooves 33 over the edges of the lugs 32. To' hold the jaws in such position, as mentioned above, a spring is mounted withinthe housing tending to separate the jaws. In its preferred form the spring, indicated at 40, i a compression spring of barrel-like form and is mounted between and bears against the inner ends of the jaws. To hold the spring in position and prevent it from slipping off the jaws, each jaw is provided with an indentation or boss 4| over which'the end of the" spring "fits. The spring 40 thus presses the inner ends of the jaws flatwise again stops formed by theside walls l6 and holds thejaws in position on theedges of thelugs 32. The sprin 40 also serves to resist separating movement of the jaws 'by the strike.

' In operating the device, when the door is being closed, the head 21 of the strike engages the outwardly flared ends 26 of the jaws and, because of their slant, the strike forces the jaws apart,

thereby compressing the spring 40. The maximum separation of thejaws occurs when the enlarged portion of the head 2'! is entering between the jaws, as illustrated in Fig. '3. After the enlarged portion'of the head 21 passes in between the Ueshaped portions 24 ofthe jaws, the

jaws are slightly spaced to permit easy entrance of the strike, and the spring is under an initial tension. 7 g

Should the strike be slightly misalined with the jaws, the head 21 of the strike will cause one slightly misalined strike as they will on a strike accurately centered with respect to the jaws.

The assembly of the various parts of the catch is such that very little labor is required. The two jaws are first inserted in the space between the tongues 35 and are then moved laterally so that the tongues 35 are inserted into. the apertures 34 of the jaws and the grooves 33 of the jaws rest against the edges of lugs 32 on the front wall of the housing. The bottom of the housing is open so that the spring may then be inserted' therein and positioned between the jaws with its end seated over the bosses 4 I. The spring 40, by its spreading action on the jaWs, holds them in pivotal engagement with the-edges of the lugs 32 and on the tongues 35. The spring thus has the double function of retaining the jaws in place in the housing, as well as to resist separatingmovement of the front portions of the jaws by the strike. r

In the modified form of catch shown in Figs.

6, 7, and 8, the shape of the jaws and the manner of supporting them in the base structure is the sameas in the case of the preferred form.

Thebase s tructure is formed to be mounted within the wall 50 and to be supported by and attached to' the front edge flange 5|. The base structure is preferably made of one piece of metal and comprises a base piece or flange 53 adapted to be mounted on the front face of the edge flange 5| of the wall. The base piece 53 is provided with a central aperture 54. to permit a strike to extend therethrough. To secure the catch to the wall the base piece may alsobe provided with a pair of holes 55 through which screws may extend for threading into apertures 56 formed in the wall flange 5|. 7 4 1 1 Extending inwardly from the'base piec 53 is an extension 51 having formed atits inner end a box-like structure 58th support the strike-receiving jaws. In the'present instance such boxlike structure comprises side wal1s:60 and a rear wallell. Thesideflwalls tii, asin the catchof the-preferred form of :construction, areprovided with lugs 32 each having a tongue-33 to support the jawsin the sameqmanner as inthe preferred formb Since the box-like portion 58 in .thisform net structure, theiside walls 60 :are provided with lugs 62 bent inwardly overthejaws 23 to prevent them from being dislodged by accident and servingto guide the jaws and hold them against turning-Imovement on axes parallel to the springllll.

To permit the catch to be inserted into the interior of the wall 50, "is provided with an aperture 63 of suilicient size to permit me box-like structure 58 to-pass therethrough w l Ihe strike, indicated at 64, utilized with this form-of catch is preferably of rounded form rather A than beingbent from a strip, and is pro- "is' not mounted against aflat face of the eabihaving a box-like portionopen at its frontface, said box-like portion being provided with lugs vided with a stud 65 secured inthe door 52 as by threading it into an aperture therein. The modified form of catch shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 is adapted to be mounted in'a cabinet 'insucha manner that thestrike andjaws move laterally relative to each other. Thusthe catch may be mounted on theinside of a'dcor in while the strike is mounted on the adjacent frame II. In this form offcatch, the base structure is substantially thesame as the base structureshown inrthepreferred form, but the attachihgears, here indicated at 12, may, if desired, be reduced in sim. J

-. .LSince the catch is designed for a strike which moves transversely of the-jaws, that is, a strike scriptionthat I have provided a catch, the base structure oi'which maybe varied. so thatithe "catch may be mounted in different wayslon either cabinets made of wood or sheet metal. Also, the

or transversely of. the

jaws.

Iclaimas my invention: i 1

1. A, catch comprising, ingcombination, a base in said front face, extending toward each other, a pair of jaws extending intosaid box-like portion and pivotally supported by said lugs, and spring. means, within said box-like portion heari g againstsaidjaws. i

'2. A catch comprising, incombination, a base having a box-like portion having at its front face a pair ,of lugsextending edgewise toward each other, a pair ofjaws each comprising a strip of .metalbent; to form a U fitting over the edge of, one of thelugs, and spring means .Withinthe box-like portion mounted between and bearing against the jaws, and jaws thereby being pivotally supported ,by the edges of said lugs.

4 3.: A catch comprising, in combination, a base having a box-like .portion including side walls having lugs at their forward edges bent toward each other, a pair of jaws bent to provide grooves fitting the opposed edges of said lugs whereby said jaws are pivotally supported, and a spring mounted within said box-like portion andtending to separate the inner portions of said jaws.

whichlenters the jaws from the sides thereof insteadof fromthe ends, the outeror strike-receiving portions of the jaws are formed so that they may readilvbe spread by such transverse movement; Thus the outer ends of the jaws, '1-

heretindicated atwfarebent a short distance j along a line extending longitudinally of the jaws to: rovide: a V-shape in cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The V-shape form provides outwardly flared portions so that the strike in entering therebetween will force the jaws apart to permit it to pass between thejaws. When the.

doonof the cabinet is fully closed, the jaw-re- :ceiving portion. of the strike lies between two jaws and in the space between the jaws and the rearsurfaceofthedoor. i

Thestrike in itspreierred form, as illustrated in-Fig l'l, comprises a flange 14 adapted to be secured. to the adjacent edge surface of the wall H. wThe-fiange1tis providedwith an integral portion. extending perpendicularly from the edge of the: wall and rounded into a cylindrical portion,

I Fromthe foregoing, it is apparentthat Ihave providedua novel catch having relativelyfew parts,- which parts are of simple construction and require a minimum of labor to assemble. The

catchmay beireadily mounted in the cabinet and eelfectivelyholds the strike when the two are engaged, The jawsareso mounted inthe boxlikehousing that they exert an equal pressure on the strike whether the strike be exactly centered with the catch or whether it be slightly misalined. The spring serves both to resiliently hold the jawsin engagement with the strike and also 4. A catch comprising, in combination," a base including a box-like portion having side walls provided with lugs extending toward but spaced from each other, each of said lugs having a tongue extendinginto the intervening space, a. pair of jaws each bent to provide a grooved portion bearing against the edge of the lug and having an aperturefltting over the tongue, and

spring means mounted within the box-like portion :andtending to separate the inner ends of thejaws. i

i 5. A catchcomprising, in combination, a base having a box-like portion having an openingat its front face and provided with a pair of tongues to hold the jaws in place in the housing, the' spring being under an initial tension due to the fact that it holds the inner ends of the jaws fiatwise against the side walls of the housing.

It will also be evident from the foregoing de;

extending laterally toward each other in said opening, a pair of jaws extending through .said opening having apertures fitting over the tongues,

and spring means within the box-like portion bearing against therespective jaws. I 6.'A catch comprising, in combination, a base comprising a pair of spaced ears connected with 8f e dj cent erid edges of said lugs, the per tions of said jaws in frontof said lugs being shaped to receive a strike, and a spring located between and bearing against the rear portions of saidjaws.

8. A catch comprising, in combination, a base including a pair of lugs in end-to-end but longitudinally spaced relation, a pair of tongues extending from the respective lugs into the intervening space, a pair of jaws apertured at 1min.

the catchmay be so formed that the strike may be received by movement either longitudinally of the jaws tions of said jaws.

9. A catch of the character described comprising, in combination, a base comprising a box-like structure having a top wall, side walls and a rear Wall bent downwardly from the top wall, ears bent laterally from the lower edges of the side walls and adapted to be mounted on a fixed part of the cabinet, said side walls at their front edges being provided with lugs bent toward each other, a pair of jaws comprising strips of metal bent on transverse lines to fit over the adjacent edges of said lugs and thereby be pivotally supported, and springmeans within the box-like structure and bearing against said jaws, the front portion of said jaw being bent on transverse lines to receive a strike movable longitudinally of the jaws.

10. A catch for a sheet metal cabinet having a hollow wall comprising, in combination, a base adapted to be secured to the front of the edge face of the wall and provided with a central aperture to permit a strike to an extension projecting from said base through pass therethrough,

the edge face of the wall and provided with a box-like portion on its inner end, a pair of jaws pivotally supported in said box-like portion and adapted to receive a strike passing through the aperture in the base, and spring means within the box-like portion to resist spreading of the jaws by the strike. 7

11. A catch for a sheet metal cabinet having a hollow wall comprising, in combination, a base adapted to be secured to the front edge face of the wall and provided with an aperture for passage of a strike therethrough, an extension projecting rearwardly from the base through the front edge of the wall and into the interior thereof, a box-like structure formed on the inner end of said extension and provided at its front with a pair of laterally spaced lugs, a pair of jaws pivotally supported by the edges of said lugs and having strike-receiving portions at their front ends, and spring means within the boxlike portion and tending to spread the rear portion of the jaws to resist separation of the strikereceiving portions.

12. A catch comprising, in combination, a base structure including a box-like portion having an opening in one wall, a pair of jaws extending through said opening and pivotally supported by the marginal portions of said wall at said opening, and spring means mounted within the boxlike portion and bearing against said jaws, said jaws extending beyond said box-like portion and being bent along longitudinal lines to receive a strike movable transversely thereof. I

13. A catch comprising, in combination, a base including a housing having an opening in one wall, a, pair of jaws bent along transverse lines at their intermediate portion to fit over themarginal portions of said wall at said openingand thereby be pivotally supported, and spring means mounted between the portions of said jaws with- 'in the housing, the portions of said jaws extendiing beyond the housing'being bent alonglongitudinal lines to receive a'strike movable transverse- 1y of the jaws.

, intermediate bearing portion, a supporting structure also formed of sheet metal and providing J fixed opposed bearing elements for coaction with said intermediate bearing portions of the jaws and stops ofiset inwardly from said fixed bearing elements, and a springinterposed between the inner end portions of the jaws and acting to press such ends in opposite directions against said stops with the jaws substantially parallel, said bearing portions on the two jaws interfitting with their respective fixed. bearing elements so as to prevent endwise movement of the jaws when engaged by a strike and being disengageable from their respective bearing elements .by forcing the jaws together against the action of said spring.

15. A catch comprising, in combination, a pair of elongated pivotal jaws each formed from a hat strip of sheet metal and having an'outer strike engaging portion, an inner end portion and an intermediate bearing portion, a supporting structure also made of sheet metal and pro- -viding fixed opposed bearing elements for coaction with said intermediate bearing portions of the jaws and stops ofiset inwardly from said fixed bearing elements, and a coiled compression spring interposed between the inner end portions of the jaws and acting to press them in opposite directions against said stops with the jaws substantiallyparallel, said bearing portions of the two jaws interfitting with their respecive bearing elemens to positively prevent'shifting of the jaws relative to said bearing elements andb'eing disengageable from their respective bearing elements by forcing the jaws together against the action of said spring.

16. A catch comprising, in combination, a sheet metal base structure having two spaced supporting members providing fixed opposed bearing elements, a pair of sheet'metal jawshaving intermediate their ends bearing portions adapted to interengage with said bearing elements. while permitting the jaws to turn on said elements as fulcrums, said jaws having strike-engaging portions at their outer ends and inner end portions engageable with said supporting members inwardly of the bearing elements, a coiled compression spring interposed between said inner end portions of the jaws to hold them in spaced sub"- stantially parallel relation with said inner end portions pressed against, said supporting mem- 

